Mattie Stepanek lived a unfortunately short life but spent all the years well.
July 17, 1990: Mattie J. T. Stepanek is born.
Between 1 and 14: Mattie inherited a neuromuscular disease known as Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, or DMM for short. DMM mainly makes muscles weak but also disturbs breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Age 3: Mattie started creating and spreading Heartsongs. He explained them as "gifts that reflect each person’s unique reason for being.”
Age 4: His mother, Jeni, started using a wheelchair.
Up to Age 8: Mattie went to a public school then was homeschooled for his disability and fast learning. Mattie worked up to a black belt in Hapkido, which is sort of like karate. Age 10: He was learning high school knowledge and went over college subjects. Age 13: Mattie nearly finished learning the college courses and the high school subjects.
Childhood: Mattie traveled in a wheelchair with oxygen and machines to keep him alive. Mattie was Catholic and showed his faith through a lot of his poetry. He believed in respecting other religion and cultures too, and that God waned him to. He read from the Scripture at Sunday mass. Mattie loved to read, write, learn, and speak publicly.
Message: Mattie worked for peace in the world and in people. Mattie's works were based off of his faith and desire for peace in us. Mattie was a young boy with an old soul.
Mattie J. T. Stepanek's Life and Legacy
1990-2004
Mattie Stepanek lived a unfortunately short life but spent all the years well.
July 17, 1990: Mattie J. T. Stepanek is born.
Between 1 and 14: Mattie inherited a neuromuscular disease known as Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, or DMM for short. DMM mainly makes muscles weak but also disturbs breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Age 3: Mattie started creating and spreading Heartsongs. He explained them as "gifts that reflect each person’s unique reason for being.”
Age 4: His mother, Jeni, started using a wheelchair.
Up to Age 8: Mattie went to a public school then was homeschooled for his disability and fast learning. Mattie worked up to a black belt in Hapkido, which is sort of like karate.Age 10: He was learning high school knowledge and went over college subjects.
Age 13: Mattie nearly finished learning the college courses and the high school subjects.
Childhood: Mattie traveled in a wheelchair with oxygen and machines to keep him alive. Mattie was Catholic and showed his faith through a lot of his poetry. He believed in respecting other religion and cultures too, and that God waned him to. He read from the Scripture at Sunday mass. Mattie loved to read, write, learn, and speak publicly.
Message: Mattie worked for peace in the world and in people. Mattie's works were based off of his faith and desire for peace in us. Mattie was a young boy with an old soul.